Speaking the language of PC
On my resume, I wrote that I am proficient in three languages, including Chinese, Korean and English. However, I now feel the need to add one more: PC.
PC, or political correctness, generally refers to language and actions that attempt to recognize one’s privilege and therefore not offend marginalized groups in society. The term appeared first in the 1990s in the New York Times, and since then, it has been used to deprecate people who excessively scrutinize every word and its implications. Talking PC involves careful choice of vocabulary and maintaining a keen check on the speaker’s privilege.
As I have learned to talk PC over the course of my three years at Rice, I realized that “talking PC” is viewed as equivalent of speaking a different language, indicating a completely different set of vocabularies, connotations and tone. It has even become a descriptor of a person or an event. People often assume that the person who “talks PC” is uptight with every little joke and word use. For example, during Dis-Orientation, I overheard an advisor say jubilantly and freely, “I don't have to talk PC anymore!” implying that talking PC was a shackle that restricted her from being her true self.
I want us to stop and think for a moment. Is talking PC really about not saying certain words? Is it really about nitpicking the little things? In my opinion, talking PC stems from the same sentiment as Rice students changing their profile pictures to the French flag in light of the recent event at Paris, or posting a status in support of Mizzou students. I believe talking PC is representing oneself as an ally to the community that society systematically exploits. Talking PC is a gesture that demonstrates understanding of systematic oppression and thus supports communities fighting injustices, even if it is a small action like being cautious of one’s vocabulary.
George Herbert Mead, one of the classical sociologists, states in his theory of symbolic interactionism that an individual develops one’s self-identity through language, as language ascribes meaning to our actions. In other words, what we say shapes who we are. What we say is truly inherent to our identity. Talking PC is not just an act or a language a person performs and does — it is a representation of a belief inherent to the person, a belief that no community should be dehumanized and stripped of its rights.
Linda Heeyoung Park is a senior at Hanszen College, studying Sociology and Poverty, Justice, and Human Capabilities.
More from The Rice Thresher
Fairness means saying yes to students — not just to budgets
Every year, the Blanket Tax Committee faces tough questions: How should we prioritize funding and ensure every student dollar goes toward something meaningful?
What it’s like to be undocumented at Rice
I’m scared and don’t know how to stop being scared. For years, the fear of deportation loomed over every moment of my life. I developed a phobia of police officers — just seeing one made my stomach turn. The thought of someone discovering my undocumented status was enough to send me into a spiral of anxiety. Even now, despite having legal protections, those fears persist, reminding me that freedom is fragile.
Rice should commit to protecting its international students
Last week’s news that five international students – three current students and two recent alumni – have suddenly lost their visas should alarm anyone who values this campus’s global community. The federal government’s “Catch and Revoke” program has already revoked the visas of hundreds of students from universities across the country, raising widespread fears about the stability of international study in the U.S.
Please note All comments are eligible for publication by The Rice Thresher.